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Thursday, January 3, 2013

Dad leaves baby at strip club and liquor store

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —An Illinois man is accused of bringing his infant son into a strip club and liquor store Sunday night in Daytona Beach and leaving the baby with a clerk for at least 15 minutes.

The baby's mother and father are considered transients, according to police. They moved to the area from up north, and have been staying at a motel on State Road A1A.

The father allegedly asked a clerk at the Shark Lounge and Liquor Store to hold his infant son, and then he took off.

Police Chief Mike Chitwood said Kenneth Rowe Jr., 26, was drunk when he showed up at the club carrying his months-old baby. He asked a clerk to hold the baby so he could go outside and smoke a cigarette, witnesses said.

The clerk agreed because she was concerned about a baby out in the cold, but then Rowe disappeared.

Kenneth Rowe Jr.

The business owner called 911.

Caller: He's got an infant, about 11 months old. It's abandoned.

Dispatcher: He's trying to abandon it?

Caller: That's correct.

Police said Rowe eventually returned.

Caller: He asked her if she could hold the baby for a few minutes, and then we had to go and chase him down to get him to come back into the store to pick up his child. He's severely intoxicated.

Police said Rowe left the club with the baby, weaving in and out of busy traffic until he lay down on the ground. Police said he hid when officers showed up, but the baby gave his father away when he started to cry.